Tony Tarantino was born on July 4, 1940 in Queens, New York, to Elizabeth Jean and Dominic James Tarantino, who were of Italian/Sicilian descent. He was raised in Brooklyn. In 1952, the family, which included his sister Diane, moved to Los Angeles, California. Tony graduated from L.A.'s Washington High School in 1958. He auditioned for and was accepted to the Pasadena Playhouse, graduating in 1960. He caught the "acting bug" from his father, who in the early thirties appeared in several westerns with stars such as Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, Tom Mix, Hoot Gibson and Fred Thompson. During the 60s and 70s Tony acquired many skills.

Tony received his general aviation pilot license for single and multi-engine rating; became proficient in the Western quick draw and won awards for excellent marksmanship with handguns and rifles; his Martial Arts training earned him a black belt in Karate and Kung-Fu; and as a member of the Malibu Roving Archers he became skilled with a bow and arrow. While a student at the Pasadena Playhouse, where he learned modern dance and fencing, he worked for tips playing guitar and singing folk songs in local coffee houses.

Tony's love for music led him to form several bands, playing lead, rhythm and bass guitar and singing in supper clubs and nightclubs in Los Angeles and the South Bay area. Tony also enjoyed raising and training roping and cutting horses on his ranch in Southern California. He produced a television interview show, co-hosted a radio talk show and in 1998 worked on four films, starring in one. He's a member of "Silver Foxes", the brainchild of producer David Krieff. The "Silver Foxes" is a group of celebrity parents that include the late Sal Pacino, father of Al; Patsy Swayze, mother of Patrick; and Jenny Crawford, Cindy's mom; Christine Johnson, Magic's mom; Nikki Robbins, Tony Robbins mom. Tony has completed the writing of his original screenplay titled "New Horizons". From its inception, Tony wrote the lead character for Tom Cruise. An involved member of SAG, he joined Book PALS, volunteering three hours a week reading to K-3 classes. Tony makes his home in the beautiful hills of Southern California.